A frigid wind howled across the yard, and snowkes drifted down in thick, steady sheets.

    Charlotte stared up at the sky, the usual sparkle gone from her eyes, her expression distant and hollow.

    Cecilia stepped up beside her and called softly, “Lottie.”

    Charlotte blinked back to herself and turned toward her friend.

    “Boss, what''s up? Are the dumplings done already?”

    Cecilia sighed. “They''ve only just gone into the pot. They''re nowhere near ready."

    "Oh."

    “What''s wrong? You lookpletely lost. Missing Sven?” Cecilia asked gently.

    Sven had said he needed to go home to take care of something, though no one knew what. Cecilia hadn''t pried.

    After a long silence, Charlotte murmured, "I feel like Sven and I won''t make it in the end."

    “Why would you think that?” Cecilia frowned, unable to understand.

    Charlotte drew a deep breath. "I don''t know. We''ve dated for so long, yet I still don''t really know him. I don''t know where his family lives, who they are, or even what''s on his mind most of the time."

    Cecilia listened, at a loss for words.

    "When he gets back, sit down and talk all of this through," Cecilia advised. “Ask him outright—some people are just oblivious."

    Charlotte nodded quickly. "Got it."

    She inhaled once more, squared her shoulders, and said, “Come on, Boss. Let''s get back inside and finish those dumplings."

    She acted as though she were fine, as though nothing had happened.

    Cecilia sped her hand. “All right, let''s go."

    For now, there was nothing to do but wait until Sven returned.

    Back inside, a batch of dumplings was already floating at the top of the pot.

    Madeline called out, "Dumplings are ready. Come taste them, everyone!" "Okay!"

    People streamed over and began eating together.

    It was only an ordinary weekend, yet the house buzzed with the warmth and noise of a holiday.

    Cecilia carried a small bowl to Queenie. Thetter could only manage one or two dumplings.

    The hours slipped by, and dusk arrived in the blink of an eye.

    Soon, Madeline and the others headed home. Cecilia saw each guest to the door, and Charlotte went next door to spend the night.

    Cecilia patted her shoulder. "Don''t overthink it. Give Sven a callter tonight."

    "Okay,” Charlotte agreed with a nod.

    After she left, Nathaniel emerged from Elliot''s room.

    Elliot had spent the day ying with Jonathan and had fallen sound asleep from sheer exhaustion.

    Jonathan, meanwhile, had gone

    back to Sinir Manor with Vivian

    and Zachary. George''s health was

    failing, and the boy wanted to keep the elderpany.

    The vast living room now held only Nathaniel and Cecilia.

    Nathaniel walked straight to her side, sat down, and murmured, "Come on, let''s wash up and turn in."

    Instead, Cecilia wrapped her arms around his narrow waist and held him tight.

    "Nathaniel, let me hold you.”

    So much had happenedtely that Cecilia felt exhausted.

    Nathaniel didn''t move at first, allowing her to wrap her arms

    around him. Only after a long

    while

    did he slowly lift his hands and

    return the embrace.

    He asked in a gentle voice, "What''s wrong?"

    ?

    Cecilia shook her head, “Nothing, really. It''s just that I feel I haven''t hugged you in ages.”

    Nathaniel patted her shoulder lightly, “From now on, you can hug me every single day.”

    She murmured, her voice thick from

    lying against his chest, "Have you

    been busy assembling the

    team these past few days?

    After Queenie returned that day, the specialists Nathaniel had arranged arrived as well and gave her a full examination.

    Every physician was a leader in the field; their treatment was no worse than that of any top hospital.